Best Place to Dig Up Truffle Treasures This Fall

Written by: Travels in Taste11/05/12 - 7:00 AM EST

NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- White Truffles -- treasures of the culinary world -- are back in season. Historically foraged by specially selected pigs almost exclusively in the Piedmont region of Italy, now dogs have jumped in on the action. Even so, this delicacy is becoming more precious with time; the truffle population is dwindling. Before that happens, though, TravelsinTaste sought out some restaurants across the country featuring this luxurious delicacy.

When Forgione is in the house -- which is frequently -- he'll serve the table himself. The menu will be served at only one table for two a night, so make a reservation early.

At Scott Conant's Scarpetta, guests can ask to have white truffles shaved over any dish. As if that's not enough, it's time for the annual White Truffle Gala at Tony and daughter Marissa May's SD26,where chef Matteo Bergamini will prepare a multicourse dinner complete with wine. Guests will be able to shave their own white truffles over dishes such as uovo fritto con toma fondue Piemontese, ravioli "Dal Plin" and U.S.-raised beef filet with foie gras and white truffle gelato. The guest of honor? May's very own truffle hunter, Sandrino Romanelli.

"White truffles are pivotal ingredients for an Italian cuisine at its best," May says.

Chef Andrea Cavaliere at Cecconi's in West Hollywood, Calif., will be offering diners three ways to indulge in white truffles this month: the "One-Hundred Dollar Pizza," complete with quail egg, leeks, burrata and shaved white truffle; a special white truffle scrambled eggs on toast and champagne; and a five-course white truffle dinner with optional wine pairings to be held Wednesday. Among other truffle-enhanced goodies, the dinner includes cauliflower and sweet potato soup with shaved white truffle; creamy baked quail egg with shaved white truffle; and venison medallions, polenta, wild mushrooms and shaved white truffle.

The scrambled eggs on toast with shaved white truffle "really showcases the ingredient and allows diners to indulge in the season without committing to a full tasting menu," Cavaliere says.

Stephane Strouk, owner of Monsieur Marcel , a gourmet market in Los Angeles, sells white truffles every year so enthusiasts can enjoy the delicacy at home. "We've been carrying winter truffles for about 15 years. They're flown in every Thursday straight from Alba, are on the shelves Friday and are usually gone by Monday. A majority of our business is pre-order, but people do come in asking for them. In fact, we've seen a steady rise in truffle buyers over the last few years," she explains. "More and more customers are more familiar with the product and interested in trying them at home."

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